Scottish Geographic
Roots...
in Oregon!
Our Scottish ancestors have left their mark
throughout the world in a variety of different ways. One way
they insured our memory of their influence was to bring Scottish
place-names to the New World. Throughout the United States
(and many other nations) you can find Aberdeens, Edingurghs,
and Glasgows. Some cities are simply called Scotland and many
are named after Scottish clans, such as Cameron, Crawford,
and Douglas. You can also find many cities and towns that
begin with “Mc” or “Mac.”
Within the pages of the next several issues of FIOS we will
explore the mark that the Scots left in the northwestern United
States. We begin our journey with Oregon.
Burns
In 1884, County Commissioner George McGowan named this eastern
Oregon city after the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns%2C_Oregon
Dallas
Approximately 20 minutes west of Salem, Dallas is a derivative
of the Gaelic word “dalais” and means “valley
of water.” The original Dallas is not well known and
has a population of only 150 – 200 people.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas,_Moray
Douglas
One of the most powerful families in Scotland was clan Douglas.
They were Scottish royalty, but none made it to the throne.
www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Clans/Douglas.html
Dundee
Dundee is west of Wilsonville. The word Dundee comes from
two Gaelic words; “dun” means “hill”
and “daig,” which is widely accepted as a chieftain’s
name from the area. William Wallace was educated in Dundee,
Scotland and in 1309, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of
Scots in this now famous port town.
www.scotland.org/uk/guide/Dundee_History
Elgin
Elgin is a northeastern Oregon town founded by William Hamilton.
He named it after a popular song of the time (1885) called
“Lost on the Lady Elgin.” This song was about
the wreck of a steamboat called Lady Elgin. It is still the
second worst wreck in the Great Lakes. The Lady Elgin and
its homeport, Elgin, Illinois were named after a popular hymn
entitled Elgin, Scotland.
www.elginscotland.org
Glasgow
Glasgow, Oregon sits on the Coos Bay along the coast of the
Pacific Ocean and is named after the largest city in Scotland.
In Conclusion
Although some of these names are separated by various degrees,
they still have ties to Scotland. There are also other place
names in Oregon that are Scottish in origin (Melrose, Paisley,
Albany, etc), but accurate information could not be found
at this time. If anyone knows of any others please let us
know and we can add them to the list… and remember the
next time you travel through Oregon, pay close attention to
the names of the cities through which you pass, and pay tribute
to our ancestors who helped to shape the nation we live in
today!
Additional Resources:
http://www.ereader.com/product/book/excerpt/12422
http://www.rampantscotland.com
By Melody Mackey-LaRue
COMMENTS:
On January 3, 2008 we received the following message:
Hi,
I was reading on your site about geographic names in Oregon
with roots in Scotland. Paisley is indeed named for the town
of the same name in Scotland. One of our earliest residents,
who's name has been lost to history, gave our town the name
after his hometown in Scotland.
Mark Douglas
Paisley City Councilor |
